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How your legislators voted - July 15-19, 2013

Published: Sunday, July 21, 2013 at 11:26 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, July 21, 2013 at 11:26 p.m.

N.C. HOUSE

SUPPORT RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS (HR 63): Expresses support of the constitutional right of the people of this state to keep and bear arms and opposes any infringement by the federal government of the right of the people of this state to keep and bear arms. Introduced by Rep. Michael Speciale, R-Craven. Adopted 73-35.

RECLAIM NORTH CAROLINA ACT (HB 786): Requires the Department of Public Safety to study measures for addressing the problem of illegal immigration in this state and clarifies which employers are subject to the state's E-Verify laws. Introduced by Rep. Harry Warren, R-Rowan. Adopted 85-28. Sent to the Senate for consideration.

Voting yes: Hamilton, Waddell

Voting no: Catlin, Davis, Iler, Millis

LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (SB 73): Requires that local workforce development boards use a competitive selection process to award adult and dislocated worker services provider contracts authorized in the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Introduced by Sen. Fletcher Hartsell, R-Cabarrus. Adopted 111-0. Sent to the governor for approval.

Voting yes: Catlin, Davis, Hamilton, Iler, Millis, Waddell

COASTAL POLICY REFORM (HOUSE VERSION) (SB 151): Amends marine fisheries laws, the law governing the construction of terminal groins, and clarifies that cities and counties may enforce ordinances within the state's public trust areas. Introduced by Sen. Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick. Adopted 72-34. Returned to the Senate for concurrence.

Voting yes: Catlin, Davis, Iler, Millis, Waddell

Voting no: Hamilton

REQUIRE CERTAIN GENERAL REAPPRAISALS (SB 159): Corrects general reappraisals resulting in property values that do not comply with the requirements of North Carolina law by setting forth the steps required to bring the general reappraisal into compliance with the applicable property tax mandates. Introduced by Sen. Jeff Tarte, R-Mecklenburg. Adopted 112-0. Sent to the governor for approval.

Voting yes: Catlin, Davis, Iler, Millis, Waddell

Excused Absence: Hamilton

OCEAN ISLE BEACH SEA TURTLE SANCTUARY (SB 229): Authorizes the town of Ocean Isle Beach to create a sea turtle sanctuary and to exchange a parcel of real property for the construction of a new ABC store. Introduced by Sen. Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick. Adopted by voice vote and becomes law.

EXPANSION OF NATURAL GAS AND PROPANE FOR AGRICULTURE (SB 379): Authorizes economic development incentive programs to utilize funds to support new and expanded natural gas and propane service for agricultural projects. Introduced by Sen. Brent Jackson, R-Sampson. Adopted 96-3. Returned to the Senate for concurrence.

Voting yes: Davis, Hamilton, Iler, Millis, Waddell

Voting no: Catlin

UNC/CHEROKEE LANGUAGE (SB 444): Requires the constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina to recognize the Cherokee language as a language for which a student may satisfy a foreign language course requirement for degree completion. Introduced by Sen. Andrew Brock, R-Davie. Adopted 108-1. Sent to the governor for approval.

Voting yes: Catlin, Davis, Hamilton, Iler, Millis, Waddell

UNC REPORTS AND E COMMERCE IMPROVEMENTS (SB 485): Eliminates duplicative reporting requirements regarding personal service contracts for the University of North Carolina and allows the Board of Governors to provide for the implementation and expansion of e commerce infrastructure. Introduced by Sen. Tom Apodaca, R-Henderson. Adopted 98-0. Sent to the governor for approval.

Voting yes: Catlin, Davis, Hamilton, Iler, Millis, Waddell

NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR FEES (SB 488): Amend the Nursing Home Administrator Act and increases certain fees. Introduced by Sen. Tommy Tucker, R-Union. Adopted 110-3. Sent to the governor for approval.

Voting yes: Catlin, Davis, Iler, Millis, Waddell

Excused Absence: Hamilton

AGRICULTURAL ZONING (SB 505): Clarifies that the exemption from zoning for a bona fide farm includes grain storage facilities. Introduced by Sen. Brent Jackson, R-Sampson. Adopted 113-0. Sent to the governor for approval.

Voting yes: Catlin, Davis, Iler, Millis, Waddell

Excused Absence: Hamilton

ANIMAL SHELTER CHANGES (SB 626): Amends existing laws to assist owners in recovering lost pets, relieve overcrowding at animal shelters, facilitate adoptions from animal shelters, and providing for improved enforcement of that law by making it part of the animal welfare act. Introduced by Sen. Floyd McKissick, D-Durham. Adopted 105-0. Returned to the Senate for concurrence.

Voting yes: Catlin, Davis, Hamilton, Iler, Millis, Waddell

N.C. SENATE

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CHANGES (SENATE VERSION) (HB 15): Permits the use of vehicles exclusively for law enforcement, firefighting or other emergency response purposes by the Division of Parks and Recreation and the North Carolina Forest Service and directs the Department of Public Safety to study methods of allowing prisoners to contribute to cleanup and mitigation efforts in connection with states of emergency declared in this state. Introduced by Rep. John Faircloth, R-Guilford. Adopted 48-0. Returned to the House for concurrence.

SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS/CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES (SENATE VERSION) (HB 269): Creates special education scholarship grants for children with disabilities that will be administered by the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority. Introduced by Rep. Jonathan Jordan, R-Ashe. Adopted 36-6. Returned to the House for concurrence.

AIRPORTS EXEMPT FROM LOCAL TREE ORDINANCES (HB 646): Prohibits a county or city from enforcing any ordinance that regulates the trimming or removal of trees on property owned or operated by a public airport authority. Introduced by Rep. Rick Catlin, R-New Hanover. Adopted 48-0. Sent to the governor for approval.

Voting yes: Goolsby, Rabon, Walters

AMEND PREDATORY LENDING LAW (SENATE VERSION) (HB 692): Modifies the North Carolina anti predatory lending law and limits the provisions of state mortgage lending law to being no more restrictive than federal law. Introduced by Rep. John Szoka, R-Cumberland. Adopted 43-0. Returned to the House for concurrence.

Voting yes: Goolsby, Rabon, Walters

WILDLIFE POACHER REWARD FUND (HOUSE VERSION) (HB 936): Establishes a wildlife poacher reward fund to pay rewards to persons who give information to law enforcement authorities that results in the arrest and conviction of persons who commit serious wildlife violations and authorizes the use of compensation paid to the Wildlife Resources Commission as conditions of offenders' probation as assets of the fund. Introduced by Rep. Michael Wray, D-Northampton. Adopted 48-0. Returned to the House for concurrence.

Voting yes: Goolsby, Rabon, Walters

CONFERENCE REPORTS

These bills represent final compromises between the House and Senate and were adopted concurrently.

STATE HEALTH PLAN CHANGES (HB 232): Makes technical and other changes to the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees as requested by the State Health Plan. Introduced by Rep. Jerry Dockham, R-Davidson. Adopted 97-0 by the House and 48-0 by the Senate. Sent to the governor for approval.

N.C. House

Voting yes: Catlin, Davis, Hamilton, Iler, Millis, Waddell

N.C. SENATE

Voting yes: Goolsby, Rabon, Walters

CHARTER SCHOOL ENROLLMENT (HB 250): Provides for enrollment priority and procedures for certain students applying to charter schools. Introduced by Rep. Hardister, R-Guilford. Adopted 68-47 by the House and 40-9 by the Senate. Sent to the governor for approval.

N.C. House

Voting yes: Catlin, Iler, Millis

Voting no: Davis, Hamilton, Waddell

N.C. SENATE

Voting yes: Goolsby, Rabon, Walters

NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY ACT (HB 614): Provides that agricultural and forestry operations are not nuisances under certain circumstances and provide for the award of costs and attorneys' fees. Introduced by Rep. Nathan Ramsey, R-Buncombe. Adopted 103-2 by the House and 49-0 by the Senate. Sent to the governor for approval.

N.C. House

Voting yes: Catlin, Davis, Hamilton, Iler, Millis, Waddell

N.C. SENATE

Voting yes: Goolsby, Rabon, Walters

TAX SIMPLIFICATION AND REDUCTION ACT (HB 998): Simplifies the North Carolina tax structure and reduces individual and business tax rates. Introduced by Rep. David Lewis, R-Harnett. Adopted 77-36 by the House and 32-17 by the Senate. Sent to the governor for approval.

N.C. House

Voting yes: Catlin, Davis, Iler, Millis, Waddell

Voting no: Hamilton

N.C. SENATE

Voting yes: Goolsby, Rabon

Voting no: Walters

U.S. HOUSE

HEALTH-LAW INDIVIDUAL MANDATE (HR 2668): Members voted, 251-174, to delay for one year a requirement in the 2010 health law that U.S. citizens and legal residents obtain health coverage by Jan. 1, 2014, or pay a penalty in their income-tax returns. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.

Voting yes: Walter Jones, R-3rd, Mike McIntyre, D-7th

PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS: Members refused, 193-230, to stipulate that HR 2668 (above) would not diminish key parts of the health law, including its ban on insurance denials based on pre-existing conditions or its subsidies of some policies purchased in state exchanges. A yes vote backed the Democratic motion.

Voting no: Jones, McIntyre

HEALTH-LAW EMPLOYER MANDATE (HR 2667): Members passed, 264-161, a bill to codify the administration's decision to delay for one year, until Jan. 1, 2015, the employer mandate in the 2010 health law. A yes vote was to delay a requirement affecting employers with more than 50 workers.

Voting yes: Jones, McIntyre

JOB-BASED HEALTH INSURANCE: Members defeated, 188-230, a Democratic motion stipulating that a one-year delay of the employer mandate would not diminish health benefits in 2014 for individuals and families with job-based medical insurance. A yes vote backed the motion to HR 2667 (above).

Voting no: Jones, McIntyre

GOP EDUCATION BILL: Members passed, 221-207, a GOP bill to greatly diminish the federal role in K-12 education, increase state and local authority over schools and freeze federal education spending at sequestration levels for several years. A yes vote was send HR 5 to the Senate.

Voting no: Jones, McIntyre

DEMOCRATIC EDUCATION PLAN: Members defeated,193-233, a Democratic version of HR 5 (above) that would retain the strong federal role in U.S. schools that began with the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act. A yes vote was to keep but improve the No Child Left Behind education law, among other differences with the GOP bill.

Voting yes: McIntyre

Voting no: Jones

AUTISM, CONCUSSIONS, BACKGROUND CHECKS: Members defeated, 196-231, a bid by Democrats to require state plans developed under HR 5 (above) to set high standards for educating children with autism or other disabilities, recommend steps to prevent concussions in athletics and mandate background checks to prevent the hiring of individuals convicted of sex crimes. A yes vote was to adopt the motion.

Voting yes: McIntyre

Voting no: Jones

U.S. SENATE

RICHARD CORDRAY CONFIRMATION: Senators voted, 66-34, to confirm Richard Cordray as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He has been leading the new agency since 2012 under a recess appointment. A yes vote was to confirm Cordray for a five-year term as director.

Voting yes: Kay Hagan, D

Voting no: Richard Burr, R

THOMAS PEREZ CONFIRMATION: Voting 54-46, the Senate confirmed Thomas E. Perez to become the 26th U.S. secretary of labor. Perez, 51, had been the assistant attorney general for civil rights. A yes vote was to confirm Perez over GOP criticism of his work as civil-rights chief.

Voting yes: Hagan

Voting no: Burr

GINA MCCARTHY CONFIRMATION: Voting 59-40, the Senate confirmed Gina McCarthy as the 13th administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. McCarthy, 58, had been in charge of EPA clean-air programs. A yes vote backed McCarthy over complaints she is biased against fossil fuels.

Voting yes: Hagan

Voting no: Burr

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